Night Music: A helm? Oh, hehe....

Raine: I'm glad someone likes Alissa. Nobody else mentioned her!

Abgie: Ladies, consider it a Christmas gift. And if you really hate the story that much, remember I didn't ask you to read it.

Merry Christmas ya'll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 15

Zandra and Alissa hit it off right from the start. The child was simply adorable and was totally endearing. The impish cabin boy, James O'Connell, a short, ten year old Irish boy with flaming red hair and mischievous, dark hazel eyes, found a place in her heart almost instantly. After being around the three for a month and a half he realized that the two children made her days on ship wonderful. Jim watched the three play around off duty, and the realization hit of what a good mother and wife Zandra would make someday. If only he could be the man to have her. Yet he put off telling her his feelings. He was concerned about her feelings toward him. At the end of the day when he caught her staring out into etherium, and he could only hope she was day dreaming about him, but something inside him said that she was thinking about Drake. He could see it on her face. Maybe he would tell her tonight.

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"Zandra, do you have time to take a walk?" she looked up from the pot she was scrubbing.

"Where could we walk?"

"Just around the ship." She glanced at the pile of dishes in the sink.

"They can wait. I need to talk to you." She frowned.

"What's the matter?

"Nothing. I just want to tell you something."

"Alright then." He carefully tucked her hand inside his the crook of his arm and they made their way to the deck.

"So what did you want to tell me?" He led her over to the shrouds.

"Sit down. This could take awhile."

"What's up?" He took both her hands in his and stared deeply into her eyes.

"Zan.....How do you like working on the ship?" A look of complete shock washed over her face.

"I..um...It's great. I mean the kids are wonderful and Cookie's not as bad as I thought he was going to be and the men are really great about my not so great cooking. Why?"

"I...don't know. Um...You seem to be distracted every now and then."

"Oh, I guess I've been worrying about Drake that's all."

"Why?"

"Because he just disappeared that day. He didn't even tell me goodbye."

"Why's that so bad now?"

"Because! He was like a brother to me! And I miss him."

"A....what?"

"A brother."

Jim felt like laughing with relief.

"So you've always thought of him as a brother?"

"Not always. When for a while there I thought I might be in live with him, but then some things happened and I changed my mind."

"So would you mind telling me how you think of me?"

She colored slightly.

"Well...I've always...I mean I..."

He put his arm around her shoulders.

"Do you want me to go first?"

"You mean you?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"Oh Jim! I...I..."

"Captain! CAPTAIN! Pirates is acomin'! Pirates!" Jim spun around. Sterling was running towards them. He jumped down from the shrouds.

"How far away...." The color drained out of Sterlings face.

"Right behind you, Sir."

"Sssslowly turn around Cap'n. Don't make any sssudden movesss or the girl diessssss.

Jim spun around and to his horror he saw a creature that oddly resembled a snake, but with human limbs, holding a gun to Zandra's head.